A dynamic wicketkeeper-batter at the top of the order, Ishan Kishan has been a mainstay in the TATA IPL since making his debut in 2016, soon after leading India to the final of the U19 World Cup that year. He rose to prominence during his stint with Mumbai Indians, playing a key role in their title-winning campaigns in 2019 and 2020. In the 2020 edition, he was Mumbai’s highest run-scorer, notching up 516 runs at an average of 57.33 while maintaining a 140-plus strike rate. His impact was reflected at the 2022 Mega Auction, where Mumbai Indians secured him for INR 15.75 crore, the highest bid of that edition. Kishan moved to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2025 and registered his maiden IPL century - 106* against Rajasthan Royals. After leading Jharkhand to the title and shining with the bat in a stellar 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he returned strongly in international cricket, scoring 317 runs at a strike rate of 193.29 in India’s victorious ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. With Pat Cummins set to miss the start of IPL 2026, SRH chose Kishan as their stand-in captain in the early phase of the tournament.